XN000022-1985-07-24 — Page 39

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WEDNESDAY, JUL` 24, 1985

UC ANNUAL FOOD HYGIENE CAMPAIGN OPENS

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THE FOOD HYGIENE CAMPAIGN IS AN ANNUAL HEALTH EDUCATION FUNCTION ORGANISED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH EVERY SUMMER TO EDUCATE MANAGER FAL AND SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL OF LICENSED FOOD PREMISES, COOKED FOOD STALLS, CANTEENS AND CLUBS WITH CATERING SERVICE ON THE PRINCIPLES OF FOOD HYGIENE BY MEANS OF SEMINARS, FILM AND SLIDE PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION. THIS YEAR,

THIS YEAR, THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE EXTENDED TO COVER THE NEW TERRITORIES, WITH THE HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS LAUNCHING.

THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN IS 'FOOD POISONING AND ITS PREVENTION'. THE CAMPAIGN WILL COMMENCE AS FROM TODAY (JULY 24) AND LAST UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST.

A SERIES OF 30 FOOD HYGIENE SEMINARS WILL BE ORGANISED AND CONDUCTED AT 17 CONVENIENTLY LOCATED CENTRES ALL OVER THE URBAN AREA AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MANAGERIAL AND SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL OF LICENSED FOOD PREMISES, COOKED FOOD STALLS, CANTEENS AND CLUBS WITH CATERING SERVICE WILL ALL BE INVITED TO ATTEND SEMINARS CONDUCTED BY DISTRICT CHIEF HEALTH INSPECTORS. SPECIALLY- TAILORED SLIDE AND FILM PRESENTATION WILL BE FEATURED TO SUPPLEMENT THE INFORMATION GIVEN AT THE SEMINARS. OPEN DISCUSSION WILL BE INTRODUCED TO ENABLE THE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, AND HANDOUTS WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE PARTICIPANTS FOR REFERENCE.

WITH THE CHANGE OF EATING HABITS AND THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW FOOD ITEMS, MORE COMPLICATED METHODS OF FOOD HANDLING AND COOKING ARE INVOLVED. THIS WOULD INDIRECTLY MEAN THAT THERE IS GREATER RISK FOR FOOD TO BE CONTAMINATED.

DURING THE HOT AND HUMID SUMMER, FOOD-BORNE DISEASES SUCH AS CHOLERA, TYPHOID FEVER, DYSENTERY, VIRAL HEPATITIS AND FOOD POISONING ARE EASILY TRANSMITTED THROUGH CONSUMPTION OF UNCLEAN FOOD.

AMONG THE FOOD-BORNE DISEASES, FOOD POISONING IS THE COMMONEST THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. FOOD POISONING IN ITS BROADEST SENSE MEANS THOSE ACUTE DISEASES WITH SUDDEN ONSET OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISTURBANCE FOLLOWING THE CONSUMPTION OF FOOD. IT INCLUDES THE ILL EFFECTS CAUSED BY THE CONSUMPTION OF NATURAL POISONOUS FOODS SUCH AS PUFFER FISH OR SOME POISONOUS FUNGI RESEMBLING MUSHROOMS.

/DURING THE